Best places to stay in downtown charleston sc
Downtown Charleston is a city of beautiful buildings and historic architecture. It has a rich history and culture that makes it a great place to visit. There are many things to do in this area including shopping, dining, sightseeing and entertainment. The downtown area also has many hotels that offer accommodations for guests who want to stay overnight.
There are many hotels located within walking distance to shops and restaurants, so it’s easy for visitors to find what they need when they arrive at their destination.
This article will provide you with more information on Best places to stay in downtown charleston sc, Best Luxury Hotels in Charleston, Best Beachfront Hotels & Resorts in Charleston, and Best Charleston Hotels near the Airport.
Best Luxury Hotels in Charleston
1. French Quarter Inn
Accommodation: French Quarter Inn
Part of historic downtown, the French Quarter Inn is named for the area of town where it stands. The inn is known for its excellent service and is a popular romantic choice for couples.
The elegant rooms feature elaborate black headboards backing crisp white cotton linens and period furnishings. If you want a private balcony, you’ll need to book one of the suites, some of which also have fireplaces.
The inn operates as a bed and breakfast and offers a lovely European continental breakfast each morning, which is best eaten in the lovely outdoor courtyard with its greenery and working fountain.
2. The Spectator Hotel
Accommodation: The Spectator Hotel
This luxury boutique property is one of the best in downtown Charleston and is known for its outstanding service. Guests are assisted by classically trained butlers who provide individualized, top-tier service.
The rooms and suites are done up in 1920s grand style with contemporary touches. We love the beds with locally made mattresses topped with silky soft linens. On-site amenities include a complimentary continental breakfast delivered to your room each morning.
3. Wentworth Mansion
Accommodation: Wentworth Mansion
This former private residence of a wealthy cotton merchant named Francis Silas Rodgers has become one of Charleston’s finest inns. The 21-room property built in 1886 personifies splendor with Italian crystal chandeliers, Tiffany stained-glass windows, hand-carved marble fireplaces, oversized bathtubs, mahogany armoires, and luxurious amenities.
The Wentworth Mansion is a member of Historic Hotels of America since 2003 and is located in the Historic District within walking distance to the South Carolina aquarium, art museum, and specialty shops. After a day of exploring, guests can sit back and relax on the outside porch sipping tea and enjoying the neighborhood.
4. John Rutledge House Inn
Accommodation: John Rutledge House Inn
This historic Charleston inn has quite the backstory. It dates back to 1763 when John Rutledge, who was one of the original 55 signers of the U.S. Constitution, built it. Today, it has been meticulously restored as a bed and breakfast and reflects its early American history throughout – we love the Italian marble fireplaces and original plaster moldings.
There are just 19 rooms and suites in three buildings: the original residence and two carriage houses. All have a romantic, historic vibe with period furnishings that are either antiques or perfect replicas. The included morning breakfast is also delicious.
5. Harbourview Inn
Accommodation: Harbourview Inn
On the waterfront portion of Charleston’s historic district, the Harbouview Inn is another charming option. There are just 52 rooms at this boutique property set inside a converted old cotton warehouse. You can choose from rooms done up in historic styling, with original brick walls, wood furnishings, and soaking tubs, or traditional rooms that come with four-poster beds and other period designs.
Rates here are for bed and breakfast, and you can have it served in your room. They also have a lovely rooftop terrace with views across Charleston should you rather dine up there. Other fun perks of staying at this historic property are the milk and cookie service and a complimentary afternoon cheese and snack reception.
6. Belmond Charleston Place
Accommodation: Belmond Charleston Place
If you’re traveling with a dog, check out the Belmond Charleston Place. This pet-friendly hotel in the Charleston Historic District is an elegant 5-star affair with lots of Southern charm.
The classy and spacious rooms and suites feature elegant decor and a calming color scheme. Beds are comfortable, and the sheets are top quality. The marble bathrooms feature luxe L’Occitane toiletries.
Book the club level for complimentary afternoon tea service, nightly hors d’oeuvres and a hot breakfast in its lounge. The Belmond also features a saltwater swimming pool on a rooftop deck, a few restaurants, a luxe spa, and boutique shops on-site.
7. Zero George Street
Accommodation: Zero George Street
Bringing European charm to the streets of Charleston, Zero George Street sits elegantly in restored 1804 historic townhouses and carriage houses, surrounded by lush courtyards, in the Ansonborough neighborhood. Featuring modern amenities and 16 guest rooms and suites with soothing white furniture and open-air furnished verandas, the boutique hotel adds more charm to your already charming getaway in Charleston.
Guests can easily walk to the East Bay Street restaurants and shops, or use the complimentary bikes to visit the aquarium and Gaillard Arts Center, or enjoy a nice relaxing stay before boarding a cruise ship at the nearby terminal.
The property offers an on-site cooking school, so you can learn the secrets of Lowcountry dishes. Make sure to enjoy a meal at the acclaimed Zero Restaurant.
8. The Dewberry Charleston
Accommodation: The Dewberry Charleston
Opened in 2016, the Dewberry Charleston is set in the mid-century Mendel Rivers Federal Building overlooking the beautiful green space of Marion Square. The 155-room property takes you back to the 1960s, with vintage Danish pieces in the lobby and Irish linens in the bedroom, hand-painted wallpaper, and marble bathrooms.
The rooms come with 24-hour in room dining, complimentary Wi-Fi, HDTV, plush terry bathrobes, and signature Dewberry amenities. The hotel restaurant, Henrietta’s, is a French brasserie that blends Parisian and Southern cuisines.
9. Planters Inn
Accommodation: Planters Inn
The Planters Inn lives up to its reputation as one of Charleston’s best small hotels. It is South Carolina’s only member of the Relais & Châteaux exclusive collection of renowned boutique hotels. With high ceilings, silk window dressings, fireplaces, and four-poster beds in every room, the Inn oozes romance.
Conveniently located in the heart of the Historic District, the Planters Inn is best for couples enjoying a romantic getaway, especially its hidden garden courtyard illuminated by carriage lanterns. The garden leads to the on-site Peninsula Grill, known for its 12-layer Ultimate Coconut Cake.
Amenities include refreshments in the parlor, macaroons delivered with turndown, Gilchrist & Soames spa bath products, the Pivotal Fitness Club, and Wi-Fi.
10. 21 East Battery Bed & Breakfast
Accommodation: 21 East Battery Bed & Breakfast
Consisting of two buildings, the former Carriage House and the servant quarters of the original estate built in 1825, the 21 East Battery Bed & Breakfast provides luxurious comfort in a unique setting. Guests receive complimentary off-street parking, a kitchenette, and a tour of the Edmondston-Alston museum within the compound.
The Edmondston-Alston house was built in 1825 by Scottish shipping merchant Charles Edmondston and was purchased by Charles Alston, a member of the Lowcountry rice-planting dynasty, who updated the property in Greek Revival style. It was one of the first dwellings to be constructed along the Battery facing the harbor.
11. The Vendue Charleston’s Art Hotel
Accommodation: The Vendue Charleston’s Art Hotel
The Vendue is a sleek 84-room art hotel comprised of reclaimed 18th-century red-brick warehouses. Art lovers can enjoy the main building’s modern art gallery, which features two to three rotating exhibits a year. This historic downtown Charleston hotel also has a fine-dining restaurant and a panoramic rooftop lounge that is known as one of the best in town.
Located in the city’s historic French Quarter, the property is ideally situated close to world-renowned galleries and boutiques. Some of the hotel’s offerings include an artisanal continental breakfast, bicycles for exploring, and cookies and milk in the evenings.
12. The Restoration
Accommodation: The Restoration
Located in the heart of downtown on King Street, the newly opened The Restoration welcomes guests to fully experience the Southern hospitality and community that makes this town so lovable. The upscale property has 54 suites, a rooftop restaurant, and provides an immersive experience in a beautifully designed environment.
When you are not busy walking the cobblestone streets, take some time to enjoy the hotel’s spa and the farm-to-table restaurant. There is also an on-site nail bar and vintage car rentals.
Feel free to take a 1966 Ford Mustang Convertible, a 1967 Chevy Camaro, or a rare 1970 280SL out for a spin. Their exclusive Wellness Retreat Package deal includes a two-night stay with a breakfast basket, complimentary bike rentals, and a signature 50-minute massage for two.
Best places to stay in downtown charleston sc
Downtown Charleston, South Carolina is a wonderful place to visit. There are so many great places to eat, shop, and explore. If you’re looking for a great place to stay during your trip, here’s our list of the best hotels in downtown Charleston:
The Spectator Hotel
Designed to channel the spirit of the Roaring ’20s, this hotel—located one block from the historic City Market—is as glam as its patrons. Plush velvet and tufted-leather furnishings, towering chandeliers, and a stuffed peacock affectionately known as Daisy are just a few of the exquisite gilded-era details. Hotel guests have access to a personalized butler service offering everything from turndown to a shoe shine.
Belmond Charleston Place
Just stepping inside the lobby of this five-star hotel makes one feel like royalty. Flanked with miles of marble and grand chandeliers, the entrance leads to 434 rooms, each outfitted with antique furnishings, fine art, and many with deep soaker tubs. The heated rooftop saltwater swimming pool sits beneath a retractable glass roof, and the property’s restaurant, Charleston Grill, is a gathering spot for well-heeled locals who appreciate fine dining and equally fine live jazz performances.
The Restoration Hotel
Situated in the middle of downtown’s iconic King Street, where you can shop everything from estate jewelry to the season’s newest arrivals, this property marries historic with hip. Think exposed brick with modern furnishings and clean colors with splashes of preppy blue. Even more special are touches like an on-site nail bar and vintage car rental for guests inclined to take a 1966 Ford Mustang Convertible or a 1967 Chevy Camaro out for a spin.
The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina
For a town that revolves around the waterfront lifestyle, hotels on the water are all but unheard of in Charleston; which is part of what makes The Beach Club so special. Yards from the Cooper River and a stones-throw from the USS Yorktown, this LEED-certified hotel (the only one in town) offers lots of seafaring amenities like boat excursions, an hourly water taxi to downtown, and opportunities to take sailing lessons from the pros who work with the acclaimed College of Charleston sailing team.
For those who prefer their feet firmly on dry land, almost every room offers a waterside view, as well as outdoor lounges, fire pits, and cabanas to take in the sight of the Ravenel Bridge with a glass of poolside Frosé.
The Dewberry Charleston
This mid-century stunner is housed in the Mendell Rivers Federal Building, now the namesake of John Dewberry, a staunch preservationist. Guest rooms—all 155 of them—are bedecked with Irish linens, hand-painted wallpaper, and marble bathrooms, and are curated with seasonal in-room bars. The pièce de résistance may just be its restaurant: Henrietta’s, a French bistro-style eatery that perfectly pairs Paris with the South.
Zero George Street
Imagine staying at your fanciest friend’s home—that’s what it’s like to sleep at this property. With just 16 guest rooms boasting original architecture and soothing white furnishings, the circa-1804 property is tucked into five lovingly restored townhouses and carriage houses. Take out their complimentary bikes and, come evening, wind down with wine and a specialty cheese board. Don’t miss the highly-acclaimed Zero Restaurant + Bar and on-site cooking school to learn the secrets of Lowcountry classics.
Wentworth Mansion
Built in 1886 for a cotton merchant, this sprawling property in the Historic District neighborhood has maintained many of the original home’s features. Today, the hotel is comprised of a luxury spa and 21 guest rooms with marble bathrooms and oversized tubs, original gas fireplaces and mahogany armoires. Guests with an outside porch can peer out onto the neighborhood, where destination dining—like Circa 1886—is just steps away.
HarbourView Inn
Located in what was once a cotton warehouse from the 1930s, this property offers a waterfront location that’s best enjoyed on the rooftop bar. Here, just steps away from the City Market and the Battery landmark, guest rooms are filled with British West Indies furniture. Besides the daily wine and cheese hour and milk and cookies before turndown, expect something new every night, from live music to a wine or beer tasting.
French Quarter Inn
This jewel box of a hotel is tucked away just off Market Street, offering a cozy respite in downtown Charleston. Guests are welcomed with flutes of champagne—enjoy it by the fireplace on cooler evenings; there’s a lush courtyard for warmer weather. Crisp linens with pops of pink, marble bathrooms, and spa amenities round out the guest rooms. Don’t miss the food at upscale Southern bistro Fig, only a few blocks away.
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island
Thirty minutes outside Charleston,this stately resort lies on an expansive 10-mile stretch of private beach and boasts five championship golf courses, 24 tennis courts and six pools. The entrance, with custom rug-strewn walnut flooring and cozy fireplaces, resembles a grand Plantation-era living space.
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Planters Inn
This 64-room boutique hotel has racked up a slew of accolades for good reason: Rooms are outfitted with handsome four-poster beds decked in luxurious silks. Add to that its want-for-nothing touches like macarons delivered at turndown. The hotel’s restaurant, Peninsula Grill, is famous for a decadent 12-layer coconut cake, and there’s a verdant courtyard, lit by carriage lanterns, for post-dinner tipples.
Best Beachfront Hotels & Resorts in Charleston
1. The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Accommodation: The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
On beautiful Kiawah Island, just 25 miles south of downtown Charleston, this award-winning golf resort has a long tradition of hosting championship events on its five distinct courses. These have been designed by pro golfers Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Clyde Johnston, Pete Dye, and Tom Fazio and make use of the local topography to create different challenges on each course.
If golf isn’t your game, no worries, this eco-friendly 5-star resort is set right on the ocean and has 10 miles of gorgeous shoreline to explore. The rooms and suites are elegant luxe, with Italian linens draped over comfortable beds and balconies looking out to the sea or the dunes. There is also a fantastic spa, two tennis courts, and multiple restaurants on-site.
2. Wild Dunes Resort
Accommodation: Wild Dunes Resort
Located on the Isle of Palms, which is another barrier island just off the Charleston coast, Wild Dunes Resort consists of two hotels, private condos, and beach houses to rent, all set on the same grounds with shared amenities.
The Boardwalk Inn is one of the two hotels on the grounds and sits just off the beach. Rooms and suites are clean, comfortable, and on the large side, and there is also a restaurant on-site and an adults-only swimming pool, which makes the inn popular with couples.
The second property is the Village at Wild Dunes, with multi-bedroom suites that are popular with families. It also sits at the center of the resort, so multiple restaurants, the resort spa, and a large swimming pool are also located just minutes away. More central amenities at Wild Dunes include eight restaurants and two Tom Fazio-designed 18-hole golf courses.
3. Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn
Accommodation: Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn
Also on Kiawah Island, about a 30- to 45-minute drive south of Charleston’s historic downtown, is the stylish and contemporary Andell Inn. This boutique property overlooks the Kiawah River and is located within Freshfields Village, which is a shopping, restaurant, and overall social hub for Kiawah and surrounding islands.
Choose from studio, one-, or two-bedroom suites that offer full kitchens and oversized living spaces. Flatscreen TVs and free Wi-Fi are also standard.
Away from the rooms, you’ll discover a heated saltwater swimming pool, an on-site restaurant, and fitness room. A free hot breakfast is included.
4. Tides Folly Beach
Accommodation: Tides Folly Beach
On beautiful Folly Beach, the Tides is just nine miles from historic downtown Charleston and has a fun and relaxed beach vibe. The only oceanfront hotel on this barrier island beach, it sits right next to the fishing pier.
The rooms are all spacious and come with ocean views from balconies or patios. Should you be traveling with your pup, the Tides is pet-friendly.
On-site amenities include a heated outdoor swimming pool that stays open all year, as well as a workout room with basic equipment. There is also a restaurant with a beach vibe and an oceanside patio for relaxing. Bring your own beach chairs, however, as Tides does charge to rent one.
5. Regatta Inn
Accommodation: Regatta Inn
Also on Folly Beach, the Regatta Inn overlooks the Sunset Cay Marina. It is a relaxed bed and breakfast with just 10 rooms, which differ slightly in decor, but all are contemporary and comfortable. They also all come with fully screened, furnished porches, which are especially fabulous for spending long lazy evenings relaxing on – book one with ocean views if possible.
In the morning, a big continental breakfast spread is served and includes pastries, baked goods, fresh fruit, and charcuterie. Other amenities include afternoon snacks, golf court transport to the beach and other parts of the island, and free parking.
6. The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina
Accommodation: The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina
Stay on the waterfront but with easy access to downtown when booking The Beach Club. Set at the Charleston Harbor, just across the bridge from the city center, it offers 92 rooms and suites with a seafaring modern style. All feature maritime designs and eye-popping colors, along with comfy beds and, best of all, fireplaces and soaking tubs.
Families will like the suites, which offer even more space for little ones to play and often direct harbor views from private balconies. Other family-friendly amenities include a kids’ club and children’s menus at the on-site restaurants.
Other perks of staying include a private beach area, luxe spa, and a 24-hour workout room should you need to relieve stress at any hour of the night.
Best Budget Hotels in Charleston
Because not everyone has the same budget, we’ve also included our favorite cheap hotels, motels, and hostels around Charleston.
1. Charleston’s NotSo Hostel
Accommodation: Charleston’s NotSo Hostel
Hostels can be a great way to meet other like-minded travelers and also save some dough when it comes to sleeping. The NotSo Hostel is in the historic downtown area and is within walking distance of shops and dining.
Set in a few adjacent 19th-century homes, it offers a range of private rooms and dorms that sleep up to eight people either coed or single sex. Linens are provided. The property offers free Wi-Fi and parking, as well as a complimentary breakfast. There is also a communal kitchen if you’d like to prepare your own meals.
2. Days Inn by Wyndham Charleston Historic District
Accommodation: Days Inn by Wyndham Charleston Historic District
Another good cheap hotel in a great location right down in the Charleston historic district is this Days Inn by Wyndham. If you just want a clean place to lay your head in a motel-style setting this is where to book. The property is even pet-friendly should you be traveling with a dog. On-site amenities include an outdoor pool and a restaurant.
3. Best Western Charleston Inn
Accommodation: Best Western Charleston Inn
The family-friendly Best Western Charleston Inn is another good-value choice. It is in a relatively central location near historical landmarks like the Charles Towne Landing State Historical Site and the Charleston 9 Memorial Park. The two-star hotel offers a number of queen and king bed sized rooms, including interconnecting rooms for families with older kids.
On-site amenities at the Best Western include a swimming pool and free breakfast and Wi-Fi. Pets are also allowed to stay, and there is free parking and bike rental.
Best Charleston Hotels near the Airport
1. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel North Charleston – Convention Center
Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel North Charleston – Convention Center
If you have an early morning flight to catch, staying near the airport can be very convenient. The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel North Charleston – Convention Center allows for this with a location just a few miles from the city’s international airport. They even run a free shuttle to and from the airport.
The rooms and suites feature comfortable decor with luxe amenities like granite countertops and stone showers big enough to walk into. Amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, restaurant serving three meals a day, and free Wi-Fi. Room service is also available.
There are many places to stay in downtown Charleston, and all of them are great. We hope that this list of the best places to stay in downtown Charleston will help you find a new favorite spot for your next vacation or business trip!
